Taupo Population 2026

Taupo has a population of 27,000, making it the #30 biggest city in 🇳🇿 New Zealand, located in Waikato Region. Roughly 0.5% of New Zealand's population lives here. It is about 57× smaller than Auckland, the country's biggest city.

Location of Taupo (capital Wellington shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.

Population (city proper)

27,000

Rank in New Zealand

#30

Coordinates

38.68°S, 176.08°E

~405 m elevation · Pacific/Auckland

Distance to capital (Wellington)

310 km

193 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Waikato Region

City	Population	Rank in New Zealand
Hamilton	192,100	#5
Cambridge	15,192	#46

Cities near Taupo

Rotorua65,901 people · ~62 km away
Cambridge15,192 people · ~106 km away
Tauranga161,000 people · ~111 km away
Whakatane18,602 people · ~113 km away
Napier66,400 people · ~115 km away
Hamilton192,100 people · ~122 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Taupo?

Taupo has a population of 27,000 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #30 biggest city in New Zealand.

What region is Taupo in?

Taupo is located in Waikato Region, New Zealand.

Is Taupo the capital of New Zealand?

No, the capital of New Zealand is Wellington, about 310 km away.

Sources & notes

Population refers to the city proper (municipal boundaries), not the metropolitan area. Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), retrieved 2026-07-07. Country data: UN World Population Prospects 2024.

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